Town will be out to end a miserable FA Cup record — no wins in 15 games dating back to January 2010 — in Wednesday’s first-round replay at Lincoln, a game that gives fit-again midfielder Emyr Huws his own chance to grab a long-awaited victory in the world’s oldest knockout competition.
Huws, who skippered the side that drew 1-1 with the Imps at Portman Road, will continue his comeback from injury at Sincil Bank to see who earns a second round visit to Coventry at their temporary St Andrew’s home on Sunday week, December 1st.
The last time Huws tasted victory in the FA Cup was on his one and only appearance for first club Manchester City in January 2014, coming off the bench in a 5-0 third round home win over Blackburn Rovers in which the prolific Sergio Aguero, who scored his side’s fourth goal, was also a second-half substitute.
It was in the wake of Town’s embarrassing exit at Lincoln, then a non-league club, two years ago that Huws first arrived at Portman Road on loan. He admitted: "It’s probably about time both me and Ipswich had an FA Cup win. We’re a big club and our record should be better than that.
"I only just heard about the club’s poor record and it’s quite weird really. It comes down to fixture and squad sizes in the past. Ipswich have just used the FA Cup to try to save the squad’s legs etc.
"But it’s a big cup and it would be nice to get through the rounds, keep the momentum going and see what we can do.
"We want to get through at Lincoln. I remember watching the replay at Lincoln before I came to the club and we’ll be doing everything we can to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
"Obviously, the league is the most important thing — I’d be lying if I said otherwise — but it would be nice to go on a journey in the FA Cup. It would be really cool. It won’t be an easy game but we’re going there looking for a win.”
Huws is one of six Town players to have worn the captain’s armband this season, having skippered the side held to a 1-1 draw when the sides met at Portman Road nine days ago, and revealed: "The manager told me at the team meeting that I was going to captain the side, so there was no advance warning.
"It was a nice gesture by him and something I had never done before in my career, well not in a proper men’s game. The ref’s meeting was a bit rubbish, a bit pointless, but other than that I still played my normal game. It was nice to lead the boys out at Portman Road.
"The responsibility didn’t change that much, other than the ref wanting to pull me aside and me knowing I was the one who was in his ear the most. It was a nice little touch and I enjoyed it.
"The first game was a game of two halves, really. They were the better team in the first half and we got to grips with what they were doing.
"We were the better side in the second half in my opinion and we looked like winning the game, even though they got a penalty for what I’m pretty sure was a dive.
"They could have gone 2-0 up but a draw was maybe fair. Now we’re looking to progress and do well in this competition.
"We want to keep winning games and keep the momentum going, so the aim is to go there and put in a good performance to get the win.
"If it goes to penalties I’ll be looking to take one for sure, even if it’s quite some time since I took one.
"I don’t think I know anyone who loves a penalty because you should score. It can be a little bit of a loose cannon thing but I want to take one if necessary.
"I want to contribute but hopefully it doesn’t get to that stage. I think if we play like we played in the second half of the first game we’ll come away with a positive result and go through to the next round.
"My only goal this season was in the Leasing.com Trophy game against Gillingham when we won 4-0 but I fancy a shot from outside the box when I get the chance.
"Even before my injury problems I wanted to be scoring more goals and I feel like my shooting is good. I need to let fly more often and not take the safe option.”
Huws is now one of many midfield players looking to nail down a starting place and last week he played alongside a new contender in Brett McGavin, who made his debut in the 1-0 defeat at Colchester.
"Brett’s always been a good player and I’ve always complimented him,” said the Welshman.
"He hadn’t really had a chance, because of the competition for places, until the game at Colchester and it can be tough as a youngster at times to get a break.
"I thought he played really well the other night. He has an old head on his young shoulders and plays with maturity to be fair to him. He did very well so congrats to him.
"The boys are playing well so I have to be patient, bide my time and then take my chances when they come.
"I have to keep improving and I believe that will be the case. I’m getting more confident with every game I play but there’s nothing that compares to proper games.
"I’m gaining in confidence and getting the self-assurance that I can now do what I love to do more frequently than I have ever done before.”